"Everyone, hurry out," Chu Tianshu said, pulling Wen Daier to the side, allowing Su Luo, Tang Xiaoguo, and Bai Qi to pass first. As they approached, a wave of heat swept over them, their robes fluttering. Tang Xiaoguo and Bai Qi shielded their faces and sped past on their dragon hounds.
Next, Su Luo, leading Fantian, moved like lightning, appearing almost as a black streak.
Everyone passed through in succession.
Li Tianjue gestured to Shang Xie Shaoqing, "You go out first."
"Brother Li, let's go together..." Shang Xie Shaoqing knew that at this moment, it was their combined effort that was separating the flames. Once he left, their strength would be greatly reduced, potentially endangering Li Tianjue's safety, as he might not be able to withstand the power of the earth fire.
Although Li Tianjue was powerful and renowned, Shang Xie Shaoqing was still a little uneasy.
However, Li Tianjue insisted, his gaze as calm as water as he looked at Shang Xie Shaoqing, "Go quickly, don't waste time."
His tone was unyielding. Shang Xie Shaoqing instinctively obeyed, quickly withdrawing his power and rushing towards the narrow path they had parted. In a flash, he too was out of the flames' embrace.
With a whoosh, the flames surged, almost engulfing the narrow path, which was less than ten feet wide.
"Senior Brother, hurry out!" the others shouted from outside the fiery circle, their anxiety mounting.
Although the sea of flames before them had weakened considerably, it still erupted tens of feet high, with molten lava churning and flowing around, making everyone extremely worried.
Suddenly, the flames swirled and parted once more by an invisible force, and a figure emerged from within.
Li Tianjue strode through the flames, like a deity. With each step he took, the flames parted to the sides as if in submission, welcoming his arrival. His long hair flew in the heatwave, his robes danced wildly, yet not a single flame touched him.
Everyone was safe and sound.
That night, the fires of Zhulong Town burned fiercely, painting the night sky red.
An hour later, ten miles away.
Everyone camped by a large river, the Ling Shui River, not far from Zhulong Town. The river water was a deep black, and starlight sparkled on its surface as it flowed rapidly into the distance.
They had just escaped danger, and no one was injured. The events of the night had been perilous but ultimately without harm.
Beside the campfire, Li Tianjue gazed at the stars in the sky, a look of solemnity on his face. "I never expected such a terrifying formation to be set up in a small town. We'll continue our journey as soon as it's dawn. Ahead lies Dawang City, and I fear many traps await us."
Everyone understood Li Tianjue's meaning.
Zhulong Town was the first trap, and there would be second and third traps waiting for them to walk right into.
Su Luo nodded, "Indeed. Such intense flames earlier would surely have alerted the demonic sects within a hundred-mile radius. Since the Blazing Flame Demon Lord guessed we were coming and wanted to ambush us, traps must have already been set in Dawang City."
Tang Xiaoguo said with some worry, "They can even manipulate ordinary people. The demonic sect members will stop at nothing to kill us, so we can't just walk into their trap. We need to find another route."
Su Luo's eyes flickered, and she smiled faintly, "Why should we flee? We're not afraid of them."
Bai Qi exclaimed, "Junior Sister, you mean..."
"Our purpose in coming out this time is twofold: to find our Master and to teach the demonic sect a lesson. How can we avoid battle?" Su Luo said with a smile, but a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes. "Although they are prepared, we are in the shadows and they are in the light. Not only should we not flee, but we should actively seek them out and defeat them thoroughly."
After speaking, she patted the dragon hound's neck, "Right, Big Black?"
"Roar—!"
The dragon hound's fighting spirit ignited, its black fur standing on end, its eyes gleaming.
Those had been mere underlings; it hadn't had enough of a fight. Only a stronger opponent could truly satisfy it.
Her words stirred Chu Tianshu, who laughed heartily, "Good! Junior Sister is right, let's annihilate them! Are we, Qingxutian, afraid of a bunch of demonic cultivators? Let's march over and kill them!"
Lu Jixing also slapped his thigh, "Exactly, let's bloodbath Dawang City!"
Everyone became excited, deciding to meet force with force!
Li Tianjue rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
He had intended to remind everyone to be careful and avoid the traps in Dawang City, but with Su Luo's words, everyone now wanted to provoke them. This girl never kept a low profile; she loved causing trouble!
Su Luo smiled at Li Tianjue and asked, "Senior Brother, what do you think?"
Li Tianjue frowned, "The demonic sect is cunning and full of tricks. It's not that I'm afraid, but with Fifth Brother here, Xiaoguo's skills are also average, and then there's this one..." He looked at the pathetic-looking Fantian and shook his head even more.
Su Luo blinked, "Of course, not everyone will go. Too many people would be too conspicuous. So, we'll split into two groups. You and I will go to Dawang City and cause chaos. That way, we can attract their attention and prevent them from laying further ambushes.
Second Brother will lead the others around the Dragon Soul Forest. Without the demonic sect's obstruction, they can reach their destination smoothly. After we reunite, we can enter the Death Abyss, which would be the safest and least time-consuming."
Li Tianjue paused, "So..."
This girl had already thought it through, not wanting Fifth Brother and Xiaoguo to take risks, and choosing to go with him to Dawang City to draw the demonic sect's attention. The others would proceed as originally planned. Such a plan was quite good.
Thinking of himself and Su Luo causing a ruckus in Dawang City without restraint, Li Tianjue finally nodded, "If that's the case, then it's settled..."
Chu Tianshu, however, protested indignantly, "What do you mean, Junior Sister? Just you and Senior Brother going to Dawang City? No way! I'm going too. I won't be satisfied if I don't teach those demonic cultivators a lesson. They almost burned me just now, and I want to kill some demonic cultivators for revenge. Let Third Brother lead the team."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Jixing also chimed in, "Why should I lead the team? I don't agree! I'm going to Dawang City too! If Junior Sister can go, then of course I have to go. Sneaking through the Dragon Soul Forest is too boring!"
Su Luo smiled at the two of them, "Second Brother, Third Brother, neither of you can go. If you're not here, who will protect Fifth Brother and Xiaoguo? What if something happens?"
Bai Qi looked a bit down. He wished he hadn't come out at all.
Now he was holding everyone back, causing them to worry about his safety, which made him feel deeply apologetic.
Tang Xiaoguo, sensing his thoughts, smiled and said to him, "Fifth Brother, don't overthink it. Senior Brother and Second Brother won't look down on us. Although your cultivation is low, everyone understands your intention to save the Sect Master. Look at me, I'm also quite weak, yet I follow Senior Brother around everywhere."
Su Luo also nodded, "Yes, Fifth Brother, your poison hasn't healed yet, and you can't cultivate. It's only right for everyone to protect you. Senior Brother used to protect me, and this time, let Second Brother and the others protect you."
Given this, Chu Tianshu had nothing more to say.
Li Tianjue made the final decision, "It's settled then. Tianshu, you lead the others along the edge of the Dragon Soul Forest and act according to the situation. Wait for Luo Luo and me near the Death Abyss. It's expected to take seven to eight days. If there are any problems along the way, you can contact me using the sound transmission jade pendant."
Chu Tianshu replied, "Don't worry, Senior Brother, I guarantee it will be fine."
Lu Jixing said no more. After all, he didn't want Fifth Brother and Xiaoguo to be in danger, so he could only stay and take the other route.